Hami melon is renowned for its attractive appearance, crisp and juicy flesh, superior taste, and rich flavor, making it a popular choice among consumers. Its strong market demand and high economic returns make it an appealing crop. However, Hami melon originates from Xinjiang, China, where it thrives in a dry climate with abundant sunlight and heat. Due to its low resistance to humidity, sensitivity to cold, and weak tolerance to low light, cultivating Hami melon outside its native region presents significant challenges. Progress in local cultivation has been limited, prompting the need for tailored techniques.
Over the past few years, we have introduced, tested, and demonstrated methods suitable for early spring cultivation of Hami melon. Through continuous improvement, we have developed effective technical strategies that now support successful local farming.
**Yield Structure and Goals:**
1. Early spring cultivation using four-layer film-covered ground climbing method. Standard pipe sheds are used, with 500–550 plants per mu.
2. The yield is expected to exceed 2,000 kilograms per mu. The first batch of fruits includes 2 melons per plant, each weighing about 1.0 kg, and they are ready for sale before and after May 1st. The second batch yields 2 melons per plant, with an average weight of 1.5–2.0 kg. The commodity rate should be at least 85%.
3. The fruit has a beautiful appearance, no blemishes, high maturity, and a central sugar content over 14%, meeting Shanghai’s safety regulations for agricultural products.
**Main Cultivation Techniques:**
1. **Timely planting and strong seedling management:**
Sowing should not be too early, typically around mid-January. Using multi-film coverage combined with electric hotbeds helps produce healthy seedlings. Nutrient soil is prepared from the top layer of rice fields that haven't grown cucurbits for several years. After sterilization, it is mixed in specific proportions and ready one week before sowing. Seeds are soaked and germinated before being planted. Seedlings are managed with the "two highs and two lows" method, with special attention given to cooling them down a week before transplanting. Disease prevention is crucial, and spraying with "Amisida" 1–2 times can help reduce disease risk. Seedlings are about 30 days old, with three leaves and one heart.
2. **Land selection, site preparation, and scientific fertilization:**
A rice paddy field without previous melon cultivation, with good drainage and high elevation, is selected. Site preparation focuses on making proper ridges and ensuring the "three ditch" system is deep enough to manage water runoff. Basal fertilizer consists of 400–500 kg of organic fertilizer and 50 kg of potassium sulfate compound or BB fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is minimized to avoid increasing disease occurrence. Two months before planting, the shed is covered with film to warm up the soil, and planting holes are pre-dug. Mulch is applied to raise temperature and control humidity. The air humidity is kept low to prevent diseases.
3. **Standardized management and safe operation:**
(1) Temperature and light control are essential. After ventilation, sunscreen is removed. On sunny days, small sheds inside are taken down, and the main film is covered by 2–3 PM. This increases ground temperature, promotes root growth, and enhances photosynthesis. Greenhouse temperatures should be maintained between 28–30°C during the day and above 10°C at night. When vines reach the fruiting stage, temperature is slightly reduced to encourage fruit setting, then increased again to improve quality. Watering is done as needed, and ventilation helps regulate humidity.
(2) Pruning and pollination are critical. Double-vine pruning is used, with two batches of fruits harvested. Pruning starts from the clover to the four-leaf one-heart stage. Strong growth potential and large leaves require careful pruning to reduce disease risks. Artificial pollination is used, with the first fruit set around the 12th node. Thinning is done after fruiting to ensure high-quality fruits on each vine.
(3) To enhance resilience, plant growth regulators may be added. A compound fertilizer solution is used for long-coarse fertilizer, and 10–15 kg of potassium sulfate or compound fertilizer is applied for swelling fruit. Watering is stopped during the first half of the harvest.
(4) Disease and pest control are important. Common diseases include blight, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Insect pests like locusts and red spiders are also present. Pesticides such as thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil, imidacloprid, and avermectin can be used, but safety intervals must be observed.
4. **Timely harvesting and quality assurance:**
Fruits are harvested only when they meet the variety's characteristics. After harvesting, they are graded, packaged, and promptly listed for sale.
Light-Blockage Net,Sun Shade Netting Mesh,Protect Plants Pest Control,Indoor Aluminum Foil Shade Net
Changzhou Green Nets Co.,Ltd. , https://www.czglnets.com